Dahlia plant named ‘KLEDH11031’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Dahlia  variety named ‘KLEDH11031’ particularly distinguished by its large, red-purple flowers, and a full, compact plant habit, is disclosed.

Genus and species: Dahlia×hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘KLEDH11031’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety of Dahlia,botanically known as Dahlia×hybrida, and hereinafter referred to by thevariety name ‘KLEDH11031’. The new variety is the result of a crossconducted in 2007 in Stuttgart, Germany between female Dahlia plant ‘DH2006 0095’ (unpatented) and male Dahlia plant ‘DH 2006 0039’(unpatented). A single plant selection was subsequently chosen forfurther evaluation and asexual propagation.

The new variety was first asexually propagated by vegetative cuttings inMay 2008 in Stuttgart, Germany and has been asexually reproducedrepeatedly by terminal tip cuttings for 4 to 5 generations. The presentinvention has been found to retain its distinctive characteristicsthrough successive asexual propagations.

Plant Breeder's Rights for this variety were applied for in the EuropeanUnion on Jul. 8, 2011. ‘KLEDH11031’ has not been made publicly availablemore than one year prior to filing of this application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics of this new variety when grown under normalhorticultural practices in Stuttgart, Germany.

-   -   1. Large, red-purple flowers; and    -   2. A full, compact plant habit.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

This new Dahlia plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographwhich shows overall plant habit including blooms, buds, and foliage ofthe plant. The photograph is of a four month-old plant grown in a heatedgreenhouse and outside in Stuttgart, Germany in 2012. The colors shownare as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographicprocedures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘KLEDH11031’. The data which define thesecharacteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out inStuttgart, Germany. The plant history was taken in May of 2012 on 3month-old plants grown in 14 centimeter pots. The plants were grown in aheated greenhouse and pinched once at week 7. Color readings were takenunder natural light. Color references are primarily to The R.H.S. ColourChart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.) (2007edition).

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW PLANT

-   Classification:    -   -   Family.—Asteraceae.        -   Botanical name.—Dahlia×hybrida.        -   Common name.—Dahlia.        -   Denomination.—‘KLEDH11031’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—‘DH 2006 0095’ (unpatented).        -   Male parent.—‘DH 2006 0039’ (unpatented).-   Growth:    -   -   Form and habit.—Inverted triangle.        -   Growth habit.—Upright.        -   Branching habit.—Freely branching.        -   Height (from top of soil, including inflorescence).—25.0 cm            to 35.0 cm.        -   Width (including inflorescence).—Approximately 25.0 cm.        -   Propagation.—Vegetative cuttings from tips.        -   Time to produce a finished flowering plant.—Approximately 9            weeks.        -   Time to initiate and develop roots.—8 to 21 days.        -   Root description.—Fine fibrous.        -   Rooting habit.—Fusiform.-   Leaves:    -   -   Leaf quantity per lateral stem.—6 to 8.        -   Type.—Simple.        -   Arrangement.—Opposite.        -   Shape.—Ovate.        -   Apex.—Acuminate.        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Margin.—Serrate.        -   Immature leaf.—Color: Upper surface: RHS N137A. Lower            surface: RHS 148C.        -   Mature leaf.—Color: Upper surface: RHS N137A. Lower surface:            RHS 139C.        -   Length.—Approximately 11.0 cm.        -   Width.—Approximately 7.0 cm.        -   Texture (both upper and lower surface).—Leathery and rough.        -   Venation pattern.—Arcuate.        -   Petioles.—Length: Approximately 3.5 cm. Diameter:            Approximately 0.5 cm. Color: RHS 138B. Texture: Smooth.-   Stems:    -   -   Total number of branches.—5.        -   Length.—Approximately 26.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.8 cm.        -   Internode length.—Approximately 3.8 cm.        -   Color.—RHS 141C.        -   Texture.—Smooth.-   Inflorescence buds:    -   -   Shape.—Round.        -   Length.—1.2 cm.        -   Diameter.—1.3 cm.        -   Color (at tight bud just before the ray florets unfold).—RHS            144B at the apex and RHS 141B at the base.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Type.—Terminal and composite.        -   Height.—2.0 cm to 3.0 cm.        -   Depth.—2.0 cm to 3.0 cm.        -   Blooming habit (flowering season).—Spring to autumn.        -   Quantity of inflorescences per plant.—Approximately 5.        -   Lastingness of the inflorescences on the plant.—20 days.        -   Fragrance.—Absent.        -   Inflorescence diameter.—Approximately 8.5 cm.        -   Disc diameter.—1.6 cm.-   Disc floret:    -   -   Quantity per inflorescence.—30.        -   Shape.—Tubular.        -   Tube color (closed).—RHS 7A.        -   Tube color (mature).—RHS 6A.        -   Length.—0.8 cm.        -   Diameter (at apex).—0.2 cm.        -   Apex.—Five pointed.        -   Apex color.—RHS 7A.        -   Base.—Fused into a corolla tube.        -   Margin.—Entire.-   Ray floret:    -   -   Quantity per inflorescence.—Approximately 20.        -   Shape.—Ovate.        -   Color.—Upper surface: RHS 68B at the apex and RHS 53A at the            base. Lower surface: RHS 76B at the apex and RHS 33B at the            base.        -   Length.—3.3 cm.        -   Width.—1.8 cm.        -   Apex.—Emarginate.        -   Base.—Fused into a corolla tube.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture (both upper and lower surfaces).—Smooth.        -   Peduncle.—Length: Approximately 5.0 cm. Diameter: 0.3 cm.            Texture: Smooth. Color: RHS 143A.-   Phyllaries:    -   -   Arrangement.—Whorled.        -   Quantity.—Approximately 24.        -   Shape.—Lanceolate.        -   Color.—Upper surface: RHS 143B. Lower surface: RHS 143C.        -   Length.—1.6 cm.        -   Width.—0.5 cm.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Obtuse.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture (both upper and lower surfaces).—Smooth shiny.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Androecium.—Location: Present on the disc floret. Stamens:            Quantity: Approximately 30. Shape: Narrow elliptic. Color:            RHS 20A. Filament length: 0.25 cm. Filament diameter:            0.05 cm. Anther: Shape: Narrow elliptic. Color: RHS 20A.            Length: 0.3 cm. Diameter: 0.15 cm. Pollen: Color: RHS 16A.            Amount: Moderate..        -   Gynoecium.—Location: Present at the base of ray and on the            disc florets. Pistils: Number: 30. Length: 1.5 cm. Diameter:            0.3 cm. Stigma: Color: RHS 6A. Shape: Bipartite. Length:            0.3 cm. Diameter: 0.1 cm. Style: Color: RHS 13A. Length:            0.8 cm. Diameter: 0.1 cm. Shape: Filamentous.-   Fruit and seed set: Has not been observed.-   Disease and insect resistance: Has not been observed.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL AND COMMERCIAL VARIETIES

‘KLEDH11031’ differs from female parent ‘DH 2006 0095’ (unpatented) inthat ‘KLEDH11031’ has red-purple flowers, whereas ‘DH 2006 0095’ hasapricot-pink red eyed flowers.

‘KLEDH11031’ differs from male parent ‘DH 2006 0039’ (unpatented) inthat ‘KLEDH11031’ has red-purple flowers, whereas ‘DH 2006 0039’ hascream-white yellow eyed flowers.

‘KLEDH11031’ is similar to the Dahlia plants of the HYPNOTICA series interms of growth habit. ‘KLEDH11031’ differs from the Dahlia plants ofthe HYPNOTICA series in color pattern. Additionally, ‘KLEDH11031’differs from the Dahlia plant of the HYPNOTICA series in that‘KLEDH11031’ has semi-double flowers and more flowers per plant, whereasDahlia plants of the HYPNOTICA series have double flowers and fewerflowers per plant than ‘KLEDH11031’.

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Dahlia plant named‘KLEDH11031’ as shown and described herein.